A. Wayne DeLoach

Arnold Wayne DeLoach, 84, of Prattville, Alabama passed away November 1, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Arnold DeLoach and Dollie Ida Lou Culpepper DeLoach. He is survived by his niece Michelle Watley (Logan); his nephew Sandy Richard Marshal (Kelli); his sister Gail Thrasher; great-nieces Kaitlin Watley, Ann Marie Marshal, and Kasey Marshal; and great-nephews Troy Watley, Alex Marshal, and Zach Marshal; as well as numerous cousins.

Wayne was born in Mountain Creek, Alabama and he graduated from Marbury High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Samford University in Birmingham and his masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Until his retirement, Wayne was Dean of the English Department at Troy University in Montgomery.

Wayne was both an intellectual and a genuine country boy at heart. He could recite a poem by Milton while tilling his garden. He could tell you the name of every plant and tree on his property, and he was likely to offer you help with digging up whatever you might like to transplant to your own place, along with expert advice about how to care for it. His name was often among the blue-ribbon winners for the best produce at annual Autauga County Fairs, and his poems often won prizes in state competitions. He particularly enjoyed writing prose sonnets—unrhymed but with a strict iambic pentameter form. He prized friendship, loyalty, and decency. He believed in keeping in touch with people, he had beautiful manners, he was kind, and he was a great encourager. He was a longtime and devoted member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Clanton, Alabama.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, November 4, 2021, from 5-7 p.m. Funeral will be Friday, November 5, 2021, at 1 p.m. at Ridout's-Brown-Service Prattville Chapel. Burial will follow at New Prospect Cemetery, Marbury. Reverend Mark Likos and Reverend Bill King will officiate.